Hungary, Austria and Germany patrol to stem migrant flow

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Police officers from Austria and Germany are joining their Hungarian colleagues in railway patrols meant to catch migrants making their way west from Hungary.

EU-member Hungary is seeing a torrent of migrants flood across its borders. Some 25,000 migrants have been detained in Hungary so far this year, compared to nearly 45,000 last year. Most are from Kosovo and arrive across Hungary's southern border with Serbia.

Hungary is part of the European Union's Schengen passport-free travel zone, making it an attractive route for migrants trying to reach EU destinations.

Hungarian Police Lt. Col. Balazs Petho said Thursday the patrols launched this week at railway stations and on westward trains aim to detain migrants who have applied for refugee status but try to leave before their requests have been assessed.